The Dixie Chicks [ tickets ]' first tour in three years--a massive outing that packs visits to about 50 cities into three months--gets underway in May, the band announced at a Thursday (2/20) press conference in New York's Central Park.

"I think it takes the time off from touring to get you ready to go back on the road," the group's Emily Robison said. "We're hungry to get back out there and I think we are all prepared and looking forward to that aspect of our career--being back on stage and doing live shows in front of thousands of people."

Tickets for nearly all of the shows will go on sale on March 1, according to the band's publicist. Subscribers to Yahoo!'s new official Dixie Chicks Artist Club will have access to a special allotment of members-only tickets prior to the public on-sale dates.

The outing is booked into major arenas. It will feature an "in the round" configuration, with the stage in the center of the arena floor.

"Our goal is to eliminate that typical audience-performer barrier and to be able to practically reach out and touch our fans," the group's Natalie Maines said. "To be separate and far off is not what this music is about."

Singer-songwriter Joan Osborne [ tickets ] opens the first half of the tour, and Michelle Branch [ tickets ] supports on the second half.

Following the U.S. dates, the Chicks embark on tours of Europe and Australia.

Dubbed the Top of the World Tour, the jaunt is the country trio's first since 2000's Fly Tour, which grossed more than $47 million in ticket sales, according to the band's publicist.

The Dixie Chicks' 2003 tour supports last year's "Home." The set, which hit stores in late August, has been certified 5-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, representing more than 5 million copies shipped in the U.S.

The Dixie Chicks' first two albums--1998's "Wide Open Spaces" and 1999's "Fly," have sold more than 10 million copies apiece.

Lipton has signed on as the tour's title sponsor. The Dixie Chicks will star in a Lipton Iced Tea television commercial spot starting in mid-May, and will be featured in store displays promoting a Lipton Tea contest. In addition, samples of various Lipton Tea products will be available at all of the U.S. Dixie Chicks dates.

The Dixie Chicks are nominated for GRAMMY^® awards in the Album of the Year, Best Country Album, Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, and Best Country Instrumental Performance categories. The GRAMMYs will be handed out on Feb. 23.